Breaking out in hives, having stomach aches, diarrhea? The 10-day ďAn apple a dayĒ festival in Barre elementary and middle schools sounds delightful but a surprising number of people are allergic to apples.

How about having a Peanut Party Week and expect everyone to participate? Ideas should be well thought out, including alternatives for those who canít eat apples, applesauce, or drink the cider after helping make those great tasting treats. Teachers and parents should be alert for symptoms which they perhaps previously didnít realize were related to eating apples.

I didnít know until I was an adult what caused those ďdiscomforts,Ē which werenít life-threatening but certainly were painful and embarrassing. After all, everyone knows an apple a day keeps the doctor away.